By Kim J. Harmon

If there is one thing I do know about the National Football League, it’s that I don’t know anything.

But that is a true for just about any prognosticator out there – from the big kahuna Peter King to the small kahuna Mel Kuiper. With the transient nature of the NFL (and its omnipresent salary cap), teams can turn into champions (and losers) almost overnight.

But that doesn’t stop legions of writers from trying to predict who is going to win the division titles, who is going to make it to the playoffs, and who is going to win the Super Bowl. You don’t need brains for this (Sports Illustrated picked the Carolina Panthers as their Super Bowl champ, for God’s sake).

“Nobody in football should be called a genius. A genius is a guy like Norman Einstein.” – Joe Theisman

I may not be a genius, like Norman, but I’m going to give this a try. But let me first say that, last year, I correctly picked four of the 12 teams that qualified for the playoffs and correctly predicted (like everyone else in America) that the New England Patriots would reach the Super Bowl.

But I said the Minnesota Vikings would win it all.

Ooops.

Well, there is a LOT of room for improvement. So, here it goes –

AFC East – If there any reason not to pick the Patriots as the division winner? No, but I think the New York Jets can make a little push this year. The Bills will be mediocre and the Dolphins, even with Rickey Williams and Ron Brown in the backfield still have AJ Feeley at quarterback.

AFC North – This is when Ben Roethlisberger gets his real introduction to the NFL. With a banged up running game and a receiver that bolted for the Giants, the Steelers don’t have the weapons they did in 2004-05. Only the Ravens, though, have a chance to challenge the Steelers and they have Kyle Boller at quarterback, named by one scouting firm as the 48th-best QB in the league.

AFC South – The Indianapolis Colts are looking scary already. Still with the most potent offense in the league, the Colts started addressing the defensive side of the ball and solidified the D-line with the signing of Corey Simon. No one in that division – not even the Jaguars – will challenge the Colts.

AFC West – In terms of Fantasy Football, this could be a HUGE year for Kerry Collins. He has always possessed a good arm and now – unlike in Carolina or New York – he can heave the ball downfield and someone (Randy Moss) can go get it. And the addition of Lamont Jordan gives the Silver & Black a legitimate running game. Since I have no confidence in anyone else in this division (The Chiefs? Can stop anyone. The Chargers? It’s time for the Bolts to wake up) I going with the Raiders.

Division

New England Patriots

Pittsburgh Steelers

Indianapolis Colts

Oakland Raiders

Wild Card

New York Jets

Kansas City Chiefs

 

AFC champion

Indianapolis Colts

 

“I have seen women walk right past a TV set with a football game on and – this always amazes me – not stop to watch, even if the TV is showing replays of what we call a “good hit,” which is a tackle that causes at least one major internal organ to actually fly out of a player’s body.” – Dave Barry

 

NFC East – Are the Philadelphia Eagles good enough not to implode after the off-season they had? Trouble at wide receiver (and not just with Terrell Owens), trouble in the backfield and lots of grumbling all over the place makes this a tricky proposition for the Eagles. I like the Cowboys (well, I don’t like the Cowboys – I hate them; but they will win the division) and I like the Giants (I mean that) to finish second.

NFC North – This division is open to anyone … except the Bears. Neither the Vikings nor the Packers are all that good and that has made the Detroit Lions a trendy pick. So why should I buck a trend? If Joey Harrington can’t get it done with that stable of wide receivers then his career in the NFL will soon be over.

NFC South – The Carolina Panthers went from Super Bowl contender to last place, but only because they were overwhelmed with injuries. Can they make it all the way back? No. Jake Delhomme is a pretty good quarterback, but this is the year for the Atlanta Falcons. The Saints will be too distracted to compete this year and the Bucs stink.

NFC West – Mediocrity reigns in this division, but if the Seattle Seahawks can finally screw their helmets on straight they should be able to win this thing. A good QB, a great running back, and decent weapons at wide receiver should be enough … should be enough. I also like – wait for it – the Arizona Cardinals to grab a wild card spot.

Division Winners

Dallas Cowboys

Detroit Lions

Atlanta Falcons

Seattle Seahawks

Wild Card

New York Giants

Arizona Cardinals

NFC champion

Dallas Cowboys

“Attitude is the whole thing in football. Every team has the talent and the coaching. Motivation makes the difference. The teams that win stay healthy and interested.” – Sid Gillman

SUPER BOWL

CHAMPION

Indianapolis Colts

“Football is, after all, a wonderful way to get rid of your aggressions ... without going to jail for it.” – Heywood Hale Broun